Sky Carp Erase Early Deficit, Top Kernels 5-4

BELOIT, Wis - Beloit scored five unanswered runs, overcoming an early 4-0 Kernels lead in a 5-4 win over Cedar Rapids Friday night.

For the second straight game, the Kernels opened the scoring. In the top of the first inning, Byron Chourio walked and moved to second on a wild pitch, getting into scoring position for JP Smith II, who opened the scoring with an RBI single. Two batters later, Jayson Bass smashed a two-run home run to left to grow the Cedar Rapids lead to 3-0.

The Kernels added on in the second. An Irvin Nunez walk, a Chourio single and a Smith walk loaded the bases for Yasser Mercedes, who upped the advantage to 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.

Beloit rallied back in the bottom of the fourth. A Max Williams single and a Cody Schrier walk put two on for Carter Johnson, who cut the deficit in half with a two-run double. A batter later, Johnson came home to score on a Victor Ortega single to make it 4-3. After a base hit moved Ortega to third, he came home to tie the game, 4-4, on a Brian Sanchez RBI groundout.

The Sky Carp took the lead in the sixth. Ortega posted a one-out double, and two batters later scored on a Sanchez RBI single to put Beloit on top 5-4.

Cedar Rapids had chances to pull even, putting two on in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings, but the Beloit bullpen held the Kernels off the board on all three occasions to lock down the 5-4 win.

Christian Beccera was a highlight on the mound in the defeat, not allowing a run while facing the minimum six batters across two scoreless innings.

The loss drops the Kernels to 44-72 on the season. The series in Beloit continues Saturday at 6:35. Cesar Lares gets the start opposite Carson Laws.